(A) 14 Step Season Prep: Step 1

Step 1: Archery Equipment

Have you ever felt rushed or pressured when opening day of archery season finally arrived? Did you ever feel frustrated because the season was here and you still weren't ready. Maybe you still had deer stands to hang, hunting gear to organize, farms to scout, fall food plots to plant, broadheads to tune, the list goes on and on. Even as a fairly organized person, I still haven't had everything ready by opening day. This year, we are going to work together to stay organized and be ready for opening day. Through this blog we will talk about how to finish our projects using a 14 step process. We need to start now though, because we only have 7 months left. As you will soon see, spring will be the busiest time for us as we build our foundation for the rest of the season. We have a lot of work to do so let's get started!

Dust off that bow and start shooting.

The first thing we need to do is pull out our bow and start shooting at targets. This may not be what you expected as our first step but let me explain my thought process. With January bringing an end to our season, our shooting form should still be somewhat consistent. Continue to keep it that way. As a minimum try to shoot at least 30 arrows once or twice a week this year. This will help prevent the "September scramble" as you try to regain your form. You owe it to yourself, and the animals that you pursue, to maintain your shooting skills. Besides, target shooting can be fun (I will discuss shooting form and practice next time which is step #2). If you're like me and turkey hunt with a bow, turkey season is only a month away so start shooting your bow now.

I really enjoy turkey hunting. It is fun to call to, and communicate, with a big ol' gobbler. I look forward to the sound of him drumming as he struts his stuff coming in close enough for a shot with my bow. It is a great accomplishment for any archer to successfully harvest a turkey with a bow. However, I still enjoy deer hunting more than turkey hunting. So, I use turkey season as a trial run for my new archery equipment in preparation for deer season. If you want to change your bow set up (sight, rest, arrows, release, etc.), do it now. Don't wait until right before deer season. If you want to purchase a new bow for this season, buy it now. That way you can start breaking in your new equipment while having fun turkey hunting. Get your new equipment mounted, get your old or new bow tuned up, and start shooting. I usually find it exciting to change something on my bow set up and start practicing with it as long is I am not rushed.

If your a gun hunter, shoot that shotgun before the season and check your pattern. This will give you added confidence when your chasing turkeys. If you want more details on this process, check out the Primos DVD called "Mastering the Art: Guide to Spring Turkey Hunting". They have some great information and tips.

Tune up your bow and adjust as necessary.

If you are like me and will be shooting a new bow this year (I chose the Mathews Z7), we have some work to do. Start by shooting 120+ arrows with the bow. Then take it back to your archery shop to fine tune your string, peep and any other adjustments. This year I had to buy new strings and cables for my back up bow too (Mathews Switchback), so I'll repeat the process with that bow. Once your strings and cables are broke in, mark the position of your limbs on your cam. This will tell you if you have a problem with your bow or string later on down the road.

My new Z7 and a marked cam
(see the gray lines on both sides of the limb in the cam picture)

You may be asking yourself how often should you replace your strings or cables. That all depends. My general rule is to replace them every other season (I use Winner's Choice). Americas Best also makes good strings and I've heard that Mathews Barracuda strings have improved in performance. No matter how good your strings and cables are, they can stretch after a couple of years. It is important to note here that you need to stay current on waxing your bowstrings and cables. Now, if you are rough on your bow and your bow string shows signs of significant fraying, even after one season, replace your string and cables now. This will save you a lot of problems and time down the road. Keep your old string and cable as a back up though. You never know if you will need it, especially if you only have one bow.

Where should you buy your archery equipment? Well, if you live in the Kansas City area, I would highly recommend Roger's Sporting Goods. Their prices are very good and they have a knowledge archery staff to help you out. If you don't live in the Kansas City area, I would check out websites like Lancaster Archery, Eagle Archery, Bowhunters Supply Store and the Keystone Country Store. If you are looking for used equipment to buy or sell, try the Archery Talk Classifieds or Ebay. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions or need assistance with this.

Making your equipment checklist.

My last tip on your equipment: Go through all of your hunting equipment and check it. Make sure nothing is missing and replace any broken items. I wash all of my clothes and check them over for holes or tears. As I place my clothes or gear in plastic storage bins until next season, I make a list of things that need to be replaced, repaired or items that I wish to purchase. This helps me remember what I need prior to the next season. That way I can watch for sales or specials all spring and summer on items that I need. This saves me a lot of money annually!